Fertility & birth rates in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Fertility rate in Liberia vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

Liberia

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Liberia	Sierra Leone
2023	3.95	3.79
2022	4.02	3.88
2021	4.09	3.98
2020	4.17	4.08
2019	4.26	4.19
2018	4.34	4.29
2017	4.4	4.39
2016	4.46	4.47
2015	4.52	4.55
2014	4.62	4.7
2013	4.75	4.87
2012	4.88	5.06
2011	4.97	5.21
2010	5.06	5.33
2009	5.17	5.45
2008	5.33	5.56
2007	5.46	5.64
2006	5.53	5.74
2005	5.52	5.81
2004	5.51	5.92
2003	5.55	6.09
2002	5.65	6.23
2001	5.77	6.31
2000	5.88	6.36
1999	5.95	6.42
1998	6.02	6.5
1997	6.08	6.53
1996	6.13	6.55
1995	6.17	6.56
1994	6.21	6.56
1993	6.25	6.57
1992	6.28	6.56
1991	6.32	6.55
1990	6.37	6.57
1989	6.43	6.57
1988	6.51	6.59
1987	6.57	6.61
1986	6.64	6.6
1985	6.69	6.59
1984	6.73	6.59
1983	6.76	6.57
1982	6.79	6.56
1981	6.83	6.55
1980	6.87	6.56
1979	6.92	6.58
1978	6.88	6.59
1977	6.84	6.57
1976	6.79	6.55
1975	6.74	6.55
1974	6.69	6.53
1973	6.65	6.47
1972	6.6	6.45
1971	6.54	6.43
1970	6.58	6.41
1969	6.64	6.39
1968	6.66	6.39
1967	6.65	6.38
1966	6.63	6.35
1965	6.62	6.31
1964	6.59	6.29
1963	6.56	6.26
1962	6.5	6.22
1961	6.45	6.21
1960	6.39	6.18

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Liberia was 3.95 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.79 in Sierra Leone in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Liberia vs Sierra Leone population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Liberia

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Liberia	Sierra Leone
2023	125,730	188,788
2022	123,747	186,625
2021	121,038	183,326
2020	120,632	181,015
2019	120,635	181,068
2018	120,231	178,772
2017	119,376	173,259
2016	118,852	168,784
2015	115,479	162,275
2014	116,667	160,137
2013	120,138	161,265
2012	121,973	160,915
2011	115,496	158,858
2010	114,249	155,338
2009	113,429	152,669
2008	112,032	149,855
2007	109,165	145,740
2006	104,099	144,127
2005	96,478	137,234
2004	91,755	132,661
2003	87,534	130,312
2002	88,643	126,429
2001	86,217	116,647
2000	83,143	110,754
1999	78,130	102,295
1998	72,146	103,906
1997	61,444	105,433
1996	56,392	104,140
1995	53,407	100,885
1994	52,101	101,486
1993	51,609	103,317
1992	50,204	103,251
1991	47,426	105,477
1990	52,770	100,778
1989	63,238	98,298
1988	62,703	96,344
1987	62,147	94,235
1986	61,924	90,902
1985	59,988	88,869
1984	59,460	87,072
1983	57,562	84,628
1982	56,127	82,457
1981	55,003	80,111
1980	53,452	77,932
1979	52,125	75,992
1978	49,813	74,130
1977	47,582	71,663
1976	45,528	69,506
1975	43,478	67,560
1974	41,499	65,357
1973	39,694	62,443
1972	37,860	60,279
1971	36,015	58,484
1970	35,196	56,513
1969	34,677	54,768
1968	33,536	53,126
1967	32,519	51,734
1966	31,454	49,486
1965	30,618	47,223
1964	29,592	45,487
1963	28,708	43,569
1962	27,679	41,603
1961	26,670	40,022
1960	25,713	38,192

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.29% in Liberia and +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.41% in Liberia and +2.31% in Sierra Leone.

Birth rate in Liberia vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

Liberia

Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Liberia	Sierra Leone
2023	31	30.6
2022	31.2	31.1
2021	31.5	31.6
2020	31.9	32.2
2019	32.4	32.8
2018	33	33.3
2017	33.4	33.8
2016	33.9	34.2
2015	34.3	34.7
2014	35.2	35.6
2013	36.2	36.6
2012	37.4	37.8
2011	36.9	38.5
2010	38	39.1
2009	38.8	39.9
2008	39.7	40.6
2007	40.4	41.1
2006	40.8	41.8
2005	40.6	42
2004	41.1	42.5
2003	42	43.5
2002	42	44.3
2001	42.6	44
2000	43.2	45
1999	43.3	46.1
1998	43.2	46.3
1997	41.7	46.3
1996	45	46.5
1995	44.2	46.8
1994	46.2	46.8
1993	45	46.9
1992	44.6	47
1991	44.6	47.5
1990	52.9	45.5
1989	45.8	46.3
1988	46.2	46.4
1987	46.7	46.6
1986	47.2	46.6
1985	47.6	46.7
1984	47.7	46.8
1983	47.7	46.7
1982	48	46.8
1981	48.4	46.8
1980	48.6	46.8
1979	48.9	47
1978	48.7	47.2
1977	48.5	47.1
1976	48.3	47.2
1975	48.1	47.3
1974	47.9	47.4
1973	47.8	47.2
1972	47.6	47.2
1971	47.4	47.3
1970	47.9	47.4
1969	48.6	47.5
1968	48.8	47.7
1967	49	47.9
1966	49.1	48
1965	49.3	48
1964	49.3	48.2
1963	49.2	48.2
1962	49	48.1
1961	48.7	48.1
1960	48.4	48

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 31 in Liberia and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 48.4 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Liberia

Factual

UN forecast

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Liberia	Sierra Leone
2100	20.5%	19%
2099	20.6%	19%
2098	20.7%	19.1%
2097	20.8%	19.2%
2096	21%	19.3%
2095	21.1%	19.5%
2094	21.2%	19.6%
2093	21.4%	19.7%
2092	21.5%	19.8%
2091	21.6%	19.9%
2090	21.8%	20%
2089	21.9%	20.1%
2088	22.1%	20.3%
2087	22.3%	20.4%
2086	22.4%	20.5%
2085	22.6%	20.7%
2084	22.7%	20.8%
2083	22.9%	20.9%
2082	23%	21.1%
2081	23.2%	21.2%
2080	23.4%	21.4%
2079	23.5%	21.6%
2078	23.7%	21.7%
2077	23.9%	21.9%
2076	24.1%	22.1%
2075	24.2%	22.2%
2074	24.4%	22.4%
2073	24.6%	22.6%
2072	24.8%	22.8%
2071	25%	23%
2070	25.2%	23.2%
2069	25.4%	23.4%
2068	25.6%	23.6%
2067	25.8%	23.8%
2066	26%	24%
2065	26.2%	24.3%
2064	26.5%	24.5%
2063	26.7%	24.7%
2062	27%	25%
2061	27.2%	25.2%
2060	27.5%	25.5%
2059	27.8%	25.7%
2058	28.1%	26%
2057	28.4%	26.3%
2056	28.7%	26.6%
2055	29%	26.9%
2054	29.3%	27.1%
2053	29.6%	27.4%
2052	29.9%	27.7%
2051	30.2%	28.1%
2050	30.5%	28.4%
2049	30.8%	28.7%
2048	31.2%	29%
2047	31.5%	29.3%
2046	31.8%	29.7%
2045	32.1%	30%
2044	32.4%	30.3%
2043	32.7%	30.7%
2042	33.1%	31.1%
2041	33.4%	31.4%
2040	33.7%	31.8%
2039	34.1%	32.2%
2038	34.4%	32.6%
2037	34.7%	33%
2036	35%	33.4%
2035	35.4%	33.8%
2034	35.7%	34.2%
2033	36%	34.6%
2032	36.4%	35%
2031	36.7%	35.4%
2030	37.1%	35.7%
2029	37.4%	36.1%
2028	37.9%	36.5%
2027	38.4%	37%
2026	38.9%	37.4%
2025	39.3%	37.9%
2024	39.5%	38.1%
2023	40%	38.5%
2022	40.5%	39%
2021	41%	39.4%
2020	41.4%	39.8%
2019	41.7%	40.2%
2018	42%	40.6%
2017	42.1%	41%
2016	42.3%	41.4%
2015	42.4%	41.8%
2014	42.5%	42.2%
2013	42.5%	42.5%
2012	42.4%	42.8%
2011	42.7%	43%
2010	43.1%	43.2%
2009	43.1%	43.4%
2008	43.2%	43.5%
2007	43.2%	43.6%
2006	43.1%	43.7%
2005	43%	43.8%
2004	42.9%	43.9%
2003	42.9%	43.9%
2002	42.9%	43.9%
2001	43%	43.9%
2000	43%	43.8%
1999	43.1%	43.7%
1998	43.2%	43.6%
1997	43.3%	43.5%
1996	43.4%	43.5%
1995	43.6%	43.4%
1994	43.8%	43.3%
1993	43.9%	43.2%
1992	44.1%	43.1%
1991	44.2%	43%
1990	44.1%	42.9%
1989	44.1%	42.9%
1988	44.2%	42.8%
1987	44.3%	42.7%
1986	44.3%	42.6%
1985	44.2%	42.5%
1984	44.2%	42.3%
1983	44.2%	42.2%
1982	44.2%	42.1%
1981	44.1%	42%
1980	44%	41.9%
1979	43.9%	41.8%
1978	43.8%	41.7%
1977	43.7%	41.6%
1976	43.6%	41.4%
1975	43.5%	41.3%
1974	43.4%	41.1%
1973	43.3%	40.9%
1972	43.2%	40.7%
1971	43%	40.6%
1970	42.9%	40.3%
1969	42.8%	40.1%
1968	42.6%	39.9%
1967	42.4%	39.6%
1966	42.2%	39.4%
1965	42%	39.1%
1964	41.7%	38.8%
1963	41.4%	38.5%
1962	41.2%	38.3%
1961	41.1%	38.3%
1960	41.1%	38.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 39.5% of the population in Liberia and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 44.1% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Liberia and Sierra Leone compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Liberia vs Sierra Leone

Chart Table

Liberia

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Liberia	Sierra Leone
2023	628	354
2022	634	370
2021	667	403
2020	664	422
2019	689	464
2018	707	491
2017	703	578
2016	690	633
2015	784	730
2014	801	821
2013	725	842
2012	728	915
2011	726	967
2010	712	1,018
2009	674	1,054
2008	663	1,093
2007	659	1,132
2006	647	1,168
2005	619	1,294
2004	645	1,366
2003	759	1,433
2002	700	1,492
2001	720	1,518
2000	786	1,603
1999	852	1,731
1998	962	1,753
1997	1,043	1,721
1996	1,438	1,726
1995	1,530	1,777
1994	1,811	1,755
1993	1,709	1,696
1992	1,643	1,681
1991	1,627	1,699
1990	2,146	1,572
1989	1,633	1,575
1988	1,647	1,549
1987	1,655	1,533
1986	1,678	1,530
1985	1,749	1,506

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 628 deaths per 100,000 live births in Liberia, compared to 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Liberia

Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Liberia	Sierra Leone
2023	7.29%	9.43%
2022	7.51%	9.77%
2021	7.74%	10.1%
2020	7.97%	10.5%
2019	8.19%	10.9%
2018	8.4%	11.3%
2017	8.6%	11.8%
2016	8.83%	12.3%
2015	9.08%	13.8%
2014	9.5%	13.7%
2013	9.54%	13.9%
2012	9.82%	14.5%
2011	10.1%	15.2%
2010	10.4%	15.9%
2009	10.8%	16.6%
2008	11.3%	17.3%
2007	11.8%	18.1%
2006	12.5%	18.8%
2005	13.3%	19.4%
2004	14.3%	20.1%
2003	15.4%	20.7%
2002	16.7%	21.3%
2001	17.9%	21.8%
2000	19.2%	22.4%
1999	20.5%	22.9%
1998	21.8%	23.4%
1997	23%	23.9%
1996	24.1%	24.3%
1995	25.1%	24.7%
1994	25.9%	25%
1993	26.6%	25.3%
1992	26.9%	25.5%
1991	27%	25.7%
1990	26.8%	25.9%
1989	26.4%	26.2%
1988	25.8%	26.4%
1987	25.2%	26.6%
1986	24.7%	26.9%
1985	24.3%	27.2%
1984	24.1%	27.5%
1983	24%	27.8%
1982	24.1%	28.1%
1981	24.3%	28.5%
1980	24.6%	28.9%
1979	24.9%	29.2%
1978	25.3%	29.6%
1977	25.6%	30%
1976	26%	30.5%
1975	26.5%	30.9%
1974	26.9%	31.4%
1973	27.4%	31.9%
1972	27.8%	32.3%
1971	28.3%	32.9%
1970	28.8%	33.4%
1969	29.3%	33.9%
1968	29.8%	34.5%
1967	30.2%	35%
1966	30.6%	35.6%
1965	30.8%	36.2%
1964	31.1%	36.8%
1963	31.2%	37.4%
1962	31.3%	38%
1961	31.3%	38.5%
1960	31.3%	39.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.29% in Liberia and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.